Page 77 - Panuccio2012

Short paper

Raptor migration at Antikythira, in southern Greece

Abstract We document the first systematic survey of the spring and autumn
migration of raptors along the central-eastern Mediterranean flyway, from
observations on Antikythira, in southern Greece. More raptors were observed in
autumn than in spring, mainly due to the much greater autumn passage of adult
Honey-buzzards Pernis apivorus. Results suggest that the entire Greek population
of Black Kites Milvus migrans uses this flyway. Our observations of Short-toed
Eagles Circaetus gallicus suggest that adults breeding in southern and central
Greece avoid Antikythira and follow a circuitous migration via the Bosporus or
Dardanelles, while some juveniles in autumn appear to attempt a sea crossing via
Crete to Libya.

Most raptors that breed in Europe and & Panuccio 2005, 2010).
winter in Africa tend to avoid crossing the In contrast to the central Mediterranean
Mediterranean during migration, which
leads to the well-known concentrations at flyway, little is known of raptor movements
the Bosporus and Strait of Gibraltar. between Greece and North Africa, although
However, some species with relatively long Handrinos & Akriotis (1997) suggested that
wings (chiefly Honey-buzzard Pernis the Peloponnese–Crete flyway may be an
apivorus, Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus important route. The aim of this study was to
and Black Kite Milvus migrans) regularly provide the first systematic survey of
cross the central Mediterranean using migrating raptors using this flyway.
powered flight, negotiating sea crossings of
between 150 and 500 km between central- Study area and methods
southern Italy and North Africa (Agostini et Antikythira (35°52’N 23°18’E; fig. 1) is a
al. 2000; Sammut & Bonavia 2004; Agostini small island in the Sea of Crete, 32 km south-
east of Kythira and 33 km northwest of Crete.

Michele Panuccio

135. Sunrise over the watchpoint on Antikythira, with Kythira in the far distance; October 2009.
266 77 © British Birds 104 • May 2011 • 266–270